Shankar Viman Mandapam - Review

This is the only temple in the city built in South Indian style and located on the banks of the Triveni Sangam. It was built by Shri Kanchi Kamkoti Peeth and is a modern temple, four storey high and reflecting Dravidian style of architecture. It has a height of 131 feet and the temple stands on 16 strong pillars. The construction of the temple started in 1970 but it took 16 years to complete it. At the entrance are the statues of Shankaracharya and Mandan Mishra. On each floor of the temple you can see the shrines of different Gods and Goddesses and on the walls of the temple there are beautiful paintings depicting scenes from the epic Ramayana.

The temple is visited by a large number of devotees from all parts of the city and unlike the temples in the North you are not allowed to enter in the sanctum sanctorum. Regular pujas are held here and the devotees are offered the ‘Prasada ‘after the Puja.

As you enter the temple you see:

The shrine of Kamakshi Devi in the sitting posture. On the outer wall of this shrine there are sculptures of Mookambika, PanchamukhaGayatri, Vindhyavasini, Durga, Ganga and Saraswati. It also shows beautiful paintings depicting the life of Adi Shankara.

Vishnu in the form of Balaji is found on the second floor. In front of the shrine of Balaji is the shrine of Veni Madhavar. As you go around the shrine you see beautiful paintings depicting scenes from Ramayana and also a number of sculptures like that of Narasimha, Vamana and so on.

On the third floor is the Rudraksha mandapam, containing the Yoga SahastraLinga, which is made of a single stone. It consists of a big Shivlingam on which you can see 1008 small lingas. Around the mandapam is the painting showing Shiva leela and sculptures showing other incarnations of Lord Shiva.

Shankar Viman Mandapam Information

You get flowers and sweets from the nearby shops to offer to the deity inside the temple.

Special pujas are also offered.

The puja in the temple is performed by Pundits from South India.

There are no public buses but you get cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws to reach the temple.

The best time to visit the temple is early in the morning or in the evening time.